Appologies if I'm posting in the wrong forum. I have a group of friends coming to Thailand for the first time. I have told them it would be wise for them to have 20,000 baht in cash and and their onward travel / return ticket on them to show immigration at the airport.

I'm just wondering how strict they are with this, particularly with people who have never been here?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated 🙏

Presumably these people are coming on holiday and so do have onward /return tickets? And the money doesn't have to be in THB, they can bring the equivalent amount in whatever currency they like, they will need money anyway and 20,000 is not a lot to carry. Immigration are not actually likely to ask for anything, their airlines might want to see onward tickets when they depart.

3 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Presumably these people are coming on holiday and so do have onward /return tickets? And the money doesn't have to be in THB, they can bring the equivalent amount in whatever currency they like, they will need money anyway and 20,000 is not a lot to carry. Immigration are not actually likely to ask for anything, their airlines might want to see onward tickets when they depart.

Yes they're coming on holiday and have return flights. Thanks for the heads-up 👍

surely you don't need to tell them to have flights out of the country, i mean how else are they going to get home at the end of their holiday? 🤪

Proof of spending (cash) and onward travel ticket

This Is Thailand - Join THE CASHLESS SOCIETY!
👮‍♂️👮‍♀️ We need to seen 20,000 THB in cash to let you in.

Welcome to Bizarro World. Or.....pick a different vacation handout.

13 hours ago, Starfish And Coffee said:

Appologies if I'm posting in the wrong forum. I have a group of friends coming to Thailand for the first time. I have told them it would be wise for them to have 20,000 baht in cash and and their onward travel / return ticket on them to show immigration at the airport.

I'm just wondering how strict they are with this, particularly with people who have never been here?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated 🙏

You live in Thailand but don't know? They might ask 0.01% of people to show money.

On 2/7/2026 at 12:32 PM, Upnotover said:

. Immigration are not actually likely to ask for anything, their airlines might want to see onward tickets when they depart.

Last 4 arrivals I've had one way tickets albeit immigration couldnt know that (last trip was just before TDAC introduction)

Never been asked about cash

I have been asked once at check in way back in 2007 on Emirates because I was using return portion of round ticket that started out of Bangkok......they wanted to see Visa because effectively now a one way ticket (true)......managed to swerve the problem but had to go to Head of Station at Gatwick for Emirates before they okayed me but clearly shows not entirely a recent issue

I did also get minor query at Air India check on couple years ago as they could see one way.....I did have fake onward ticket on phone but didnt wanted to show it unless absolutely necessary...as it was check in Girl spoke to supervisor before I had chance to get it out and whatever was said cleared me

I have been asked just once at immigration for onward/return ticket that very last trip inbound in April 2025....I had screenshotted one of those $12 "onward tickets" and it satisfied him

From reading airline forums it seems (not set in stone) that if you turn up with a visa it kinda trumps all queries. Something goes pearshaped and immigration can rightly say "we didnt issue the visa the Embassy did"